Seaplane docking system



Nov. 28, 1967 BADER 3,354,855

SEAPLANE DOCKING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l PM i INVENTOR JOHN BADER fazdzw k ATTORNEYS J. BADER SEAPLANE DOCKING SYSTEM Nov. 28, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1958 INVENTOR JOHN BADER ATTORNEYS 28, BADER SEAPLANE DOCKING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 29, 1958 lNVENTOR JOHN BADER ATTORNEYS United States Patent G 3,354,855 SEAPLANE DOCKING SYSTEM John Bader, 2511 Woodley Road NW., Washington, D.C. 20008 Filed Dec. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 783,625 9 Claims. (Cl. 114-435) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to the docking of seaplanes, and, while not so limited, this invention relates particularly to the docking of nuclear powered seaplanes.

The docking of seaplanes by ships in waves is complicated because of relative motion of the docking ship and the seaplane. Unless the movements are provided for, the impacts between the seaplane and a docking cradle or the like may cause severe damage to the seaplane.

An object of this invention is to provide a seaplane docking system mounted on a tender whereby the seaplane is enabled to approach the tender, and under slow speed to dock itself without direct assistance from crewmen of the tender.

A further object of this invention is to provide a seaplane docking system wherein the seaplane is guided and cushioned in its movement onto and above the deck of a tender by its own power.

A further object of this invention is to provide a seaplane docking system wherein the seaplane may be docked on a tender with the tender anchored or underway.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention there is provided a submersible tender having a top deck thereof sufficiently below the water surface that a seaplane may float above such deck. The top deck is provided with a pair of cushioned guides that together form a V-shaped way or trough that center and guide the hull or the like of the seaplane over a retractable cradle. The cradle, which is substantially V-shaped in transverse section and provided with cushions on its top surface, is mounted on pantograph type legs and is provided with a pair of posts or like abutments on opposite sides thereof, which posts project above the water a sufficient distance as to be contacted by the wings of the seaplane. The arrangement is such that the cushioned guides force the seaplane into a position above the cradle and as the planes wings contact the posts and push against such posts the cradle is lifted on the pantograph legs into supporting contact with the bottom of the hull of the seaplane. The tender then blows ballast to clear its top deck with the seaplane now firmly docked in the cradle.

Auxiliary hydraulic cylinders, equipped with ratchet mechanisms, are provided for elevating the cradle in case the seaplanes forward energy is not sufiicient to fully erect the cradle, and the ratchet mechanism assists in holding the cradle elevated. The seaplane is launched by submerging the tender, releasing the ratchet mechanisms, and reversing the hydraulic cylinders, whereby the cradle is lowered from contact with the hull of the seaplane leaving the plane afloat after which the plane can be floated away from the tender or the tender may be moved away from the plane.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the aft portion of a tender and showing a seaplane docked in a cradle on such tender in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the seaplane resting in the cradle;

FIG. 3 is an aft elevational view of the tender showing the seaplane in the elevated cradle and also showing the cradle retracted in broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cradle in elevated position and with the seaplane omitted for clarity of illustration.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a submersible type tender 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is equipped with a preferred embodiment of a system for docking a seaplane in accordance with this invention. The system includes a pair of hinged guides 12 positioned near the stern on the top side or deck of the tender; the purpose of which is to guide the plane into position over a cradle, to be described hereinafter. The guides are equipped with padding or cushions 14 which act as fenders to protect the plane from shock and/or scarring. As shown, the guides can be lowered into the deck of the tender flush with the deck when not in use. Hydraulic or any suitable power means (not shown) may be used for this purpose. Positioned in front of the guides 12 or further forward on the deck of the tender is a cradle 16; the purpose of which is to elevate and hold the seaplane in a docked position.

The cradle consists of a frame 18 suitable in length and width to hold and support a seaplane. The frame is built up of truss members and is light in construction so as to be more easily lifted by the momentum of the plane, as will be described hereinafter. The frame is supported on a suitable number of pantograph type legs 20, which are hinged to the frame at one end and to the deck at the other end. This is done in order that the frame can be lowered or folded down flat against the deck and be free of the bottom of the plane as it floats into position over the cradle. Also attached to and made a part of the frame is a pair of padded post or like abutments 22. The posts are positioned forward of the center of the frame on opposite sides thereof. These posts or abutments are set in an upright position in order that the wings or other designated portions of the plane will strike the posts and the momentum of the plane will force the posts forward, thus carrying the frame 18 forward and upward, causing the frame to rise on the pantograph type legs 20 from the broken line to the full line position, as shown in FIG. 4. Two opposite legs 20a are equipped with extended portions 2012, which portions protrude below the deck of the tender and are suitably attached to hydraulic pistons 30. The hydraulic pistons act as auxiliary power means to raise the frame 18 into contact with the bottom of the plane when the plane comes in contact with the post 22 in case the seaplanes forward energy is not sufficient to fully erect the cradle. If desired, the hydraulic pistons may be energized by contact of the plane with the posts. The hydraulic pistons are used also for lowering the cradle, as described hereinafter. The frame 18 is constructed with a series of cross supports 24 which are concave in shape and thus provide a bed or cradle for the plane to rest in. This cradle is provide with cushions 26 for the purpose of protecting the bottom of the plane. Positioned along the sides of the frame 18 are a series of padded rollers 28. These rollers cushion and guide the plane into position as it floats in over the frame or cradle. The cushions 14 and 26 and the rollers 28 may be inflatable-deflatable air cushions. As shown in- FIG. 4, the center bay or bays of the cradle are left open for access to the bottom of the plane and/ or to a hatch, not shown, in the deck.

During a docking procedure the tender is partially submerged to a level whereby the top of the retracted cradle, as shown in broken lines, FIG. 4, will be a slight distance below the bottom of the seaplane. Any suitable,

conventional means, not shown, may be used for submerging and surfacing the tender. This submerging of the tender allows the plane to float thru and between the guides 12 and over the cradle 16. As the plane passes over the cradle 16 it contacts the posts 22, as before described, and the momentum of the plane pushing against the posts forces the frame 18 forward and up and into contact with the bottom of the plane with such force as to lift the plane to a position that the plane will no longer float freely and will not then be subject to toss or movement by the waves or a rough sea. As described before, the momentum of the plane will raise the frame 18 and in turn raise the seaplane. In order to hold the frame in a raised position, a pawl and ratchet mechanism 32 is provided on one or more of the legs 20. The teeth on the ratchet are angled in the direction to allow the ratchet free movement when the frame 18 is moving forward and up but will become fastened to the pawl at the peak of movement and prevent the reverse movement, thus holding the legs 20 in an upright position and the frame 18 and plane in a raised position of docked position. The legs 20 are of a length at least equal to the height of the sea waves expected to be encountered during docking, or to the draft of the seaplane, according to which is larger.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tender is equipped with an overhead traveling crane 36 mounted for movement tranversely of the tender on a carriage 38, which carriage is mounted for longitudinal movement on a pair of elevated rails 40. This arrangement, which is particularly adapted for removal of nuclear engines, indicated at A and A, from the seaplane, is not a part of the instant invention and is described in detail and is claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 783,626, filed Dec. 29, 1958, and currently identified as Navy Case No. 23,835.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications and/ or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seaplane docking apparatus comprising a submersible tender having a top deck, a cradle for receiving and supporting a seaplane above said deck, means mounting the cradle on the top deck for vertical movement of the cradle relative to the top deck fro-m a retracted position substantially resting on the deck to an elevated position spaced above the deck, means mounted on the deck for guiding a floating seaplane into position above the cradle, means on the cradle for centering the seaplane above the cradle with the longitudinal axis of the plane in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the cradle, and means operated by movement of the seaplane into position above the cradle for elevating the cradle into supporting contact with the seaplane.

2. A seaplane docking apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means mounting the cradle n the deck includesa plurality of linkage mechanisms each having one end thereof pivotally mounted on the top deck and each having an opposite end thereof pivotally mounted on the cradle, and wherein the means for elevating the cradle includes means on the cradle positioned for contact by the seaplane as the latter is moved into position above the cradle whereby the seaplane forces the cradle through a vertical are forward and upward into contact with an under surface of the plane.

3. A seaplane docking apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cradle includes a concave top surface having means thereon adapted to conform with an under surface of the seaplane as the top surface of the cradle is brought into supporting contact with such under surface of the plane.

4. A seaplane docking apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the conforming means on the concave top surface of the cradle includes a plurality of air cushions.

5. A seaplane docking apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for guiding the seaplane into position above the cradle includes a pair of retractible guides having surfaces thereof movable from retracted positions substantially parallel to the surface of the top deck to erected positions inclined relative to the top deck, and said guide surfaces when in erected positions forming a substantially V-shaped trough having an apex thereof substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the cradle whereby as a seaplane moves through the trough the trough tends to align the longitudinal axis of the seaplane with the longitudinal axis of the cradle.

6. A seaplane docking apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the said surfaces of the guides include air cushions for fending the seaplane.

7. A seaplane docking apparatus comprising a submersible tender having a top deck, a cradle having a concave upper surface mounted on said deck for movement from a retracted position adjacent the deck to an elevated position above the deck, means for positioning a floating seaplane above said cradle when the cradle is retracted, power operated pantograph means for elevating the cradle into supporting contact with the seaplane, and means whereby the cradle is operated by the hull of the seaplane being docked.

8. A seaplane docking apparatus comprising a submersible tender having a top deck, a cradle mounted on said deck for movement from a retracted position substantially resting on the deck to an elevated position spaced above the deck, means for positioning a floating seaplane above said cradle when the cradle is retracted, and means operated by the seaplane for elevating the cradle into supporting contact with the seaplane to thereby elevate the seaplane relative to the deck.

9. A seaplane docking apparatus comprising a submersible tender having a top deck, a cradle mounted on said deck for movement from a retracted position substantially resting on the deck to an elevated position spaced above the deck, means for positioning a floating seaplane above said cradle when the cradle is retracted, and means for elevating the cradle into supporting contact with the seaplane to thereby elevate the seaplane relative to the deck, said means for elevating the cradle including a plurality of pantograph legs each having one end thereof pivotally mounted on the deck and each having an opposite end thereof pivotally mounted on the cradle, and power means connected to at least certain of said pantograph legs for movement thereof from a position substantially parallel to the top deck to a position substantially perpendicular to the top deck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,381,789 8/ 1945 Turnbull. 2,743,697 5/1956 Cooper et al. 2,756,712 7/1956 Harris l-1443.5 2,774,322 12/1956 Harris 1l446 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

B. A. BORCHELT, T. MAJOR, Examiners. 

1. A SEAPLANE DOCKING APPARATUS COMPRISINGA SUBMERSIBLE TENDER HAVING A TOP DECK, A CRADLE FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING A SEAPLANE ABOVE SAID DECK, MEANS MOUNTING THE CRADLE ON THE TOP DECK FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE CRADLE RELATIVE TO THE TOP DECK FROM A RETRACTED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY RESTING ON THE DECK TO AND ELEVATED POSITION SPACED ABOVE THE DECK, MEANS MOUNTED ON THE DECK FOR GUIDING A FLOATING SEAPLANE INTO POSITION ABOVE THE CRADLE, MEANS ON THE CRADLE FOR CENTERING THE SEAPLANE ABOVE THE CRADLE WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE PLANE IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE AS THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CRADLE, AND MEANS OPERATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE SEAPLANE INTO POSITION ABOVE THE CRADLE FOR ELEVATING THE CRADLE INTO SUPPORTING CONTACT WITH THE SEAPLANE. 